Frigophobia | Fear of Cold

(fri-gow-fow-be-ah)

What is Frigophobia?

Frigophobia is the abnormal and irrational fear of cold, and includes fear of cold weather, frost, winter, or cold things or places. This phobia is also known as Cheimophobia (Cheimatophobia) or Cryophobia

Fear of cold is the direct opposite of Thermophobia, an irrational fear of heat.

In extreme cases, phobics will tend to keep their houses very warm, overdress, and avoid eating or drinking anything cold or with ice. Sufferers with this phobia will prefer to live in tropical climates and will avoid air-conditioned places or living in colder countries where winter is present.

Fear of cold is related to Pagophobia and Psychrophobia (fear of cold or cold weather). (Some references to Psychrophobia include a fear of cold things as well as a fear of the cold.)

The root word 'frigo' is Greek meaning 'cold' or 'freezing' and the word 'phobia' comes from the Greek word ‘phóbos’ meaning 'fear.'

Causes of Frigophobia

Frigophobia is a specific (or “isolated”) phobia, centered on non-social key factors. Isolated phobias tend to have some previous trauma (often in childhood and often physically injurious) as a root cause; a fear of bees may stem from an injury in childhood, for instance.

Upbringing can also play a role, such as parental warnings about a direct threat (such as “snakes can bite and kill you”) which is especially notable in cases where a threat is more imminent. (An allergy to bees or peanut butter, for instance, would naturally reinforce a real medical concern.)

It is thought that genetics and hereditary factors may play a role in specific phobias, especially those related to a danger of injury. (A primal “fight or flight” reflex may be more easily triggered in those with a genetic predisposition, for instance.)

By contrast, social phobias (like a fear of body odor or touch) are less well-understood, are driven by social anxiety, and are broadly labeled as “social anxiety disorder”.

In all kinds of phobias, external experiences and / or reports can further reinforce or develop the fear, such as seeing a family member or friend who is affected. In extreme cases, indirect exposures can be as remote as overhearing a reference in conversation, seeing something in the news, on TV, or in the movies.

Frigophobia, like most phobias, stems from a subconscious overprotection mechanism, and as with many phobias can also be rooted in an unresolved emotional conflict.

Concern for cold weather is rational, but can lead to irrational fears through repeated discomfort, etc. Such direct experience or history is, however, not required for a phobia to form.